Machine for stretching distensible sleeves



March 24, 1953 1 W, TAYLOR 2,632,239

MACHINE FOR STRETCHING DISTENSIBLE SLEEVES Filed Jan. 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l TTORNEK March 24, 1953 1. W. TAYLOR 2,632,239

MACHINE FOR STRETCHING DISTENSIBLE SLEEVES Filed Jan. 28, 1949 3 SheetS-Sheet 2 e M Arrow/EV.

Ritented Mar. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR STRETCHING DISTENSIBLE l SLEEVES Application January 28, 1949, Serial No. 7 3,278

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine capable f facilitating the placement of a relatively short, elastic, tubular, insulating member upon the terminal end of an electrical conductor, the primary aimbeing to provide means to distend the tubular insulator to an extent permitting the insertion of the terminal itself through the distended tube, whereby upon release of the tube it takes a position tting tightly and neatly about the conductor at the point of joinder with the terminal.

It is common knowledge that electrical conductors of the kind used, for instance, in automotive wiring harnesses for the horn, lights, ignition circuits and the like are provided with metallic terminals that are soldered directly to the conductor after a portion of the insulation has been removed therefrom, the terminal oftentimes taking the form of a washer-like member having a diameter appreciably greater than the diameter of the conductor.

These conductor-terminal assemblies are provided with a short, tubular insulating member that covers the connecting area between the conductor and the terminal. Such tubular insulators are usually formed from rubber or other elastic material, and one of the most diiiicult problems in this eld is the application of the tubular insulator as the last step of the operation.

It is the most important object of this invention, therefore, to provide a machine capable of automatically distending the tubular insulator above mentioned, whereby to permit the mounting thereof in place upon the conductor in a rapid, eliicient and simple manner.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a machine for distending tubular members having a rotatable drum provided with a plurality of outwardly-extending radial fingers arranged in symmetrical pairs, the fingers of each pair being movable toward and from leach other and capable of threadably receiving the tube to be distended when the fingers are together, all to the end that, as the fingers are spread apart upon rotation of the drum, the tube will be stretched to a distended condition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine as above set forth wherein there is provided Within the rotatable drum stationary means engageable with one of the fingers of each pair and as the drum rotates to move said one finger outwardly whereby to stretch the tube on the fingers.

A further object of the present invention is t0 provide a machine as above set forth wherein the rotatable drum is actuated in step-by-step fashion, to the end that the tube can be inserted upon one pair of fingers at one side of the drum and removed at the opposite side of the drum after the same has been mounted upon the conductor, the actuating means for the lingers being operable to return the fingers to a juxtaposed position as the drum continues its rotation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a machine having structure as a part thereof and operable automatically thereby for feeding a length of the tubular stock to the machine and t0 automatically cut such length of stock into short pieces, the cut tubes there' upon being automatically fed onto the foresaid fingers as the drum moves step-by-step.

Other important objects of the present invention relate to details of construction capable of performing the main objects above set forth, all of which will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a sleeve-producing and applying machine for automotive ignition Wires made in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away to reveal details v of construction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View thereof, parts being broken away and in section for clearness.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational View thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed, elevational View showing a portion of that end of the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. 3, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, cross sectional View taken on line V-V of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal, vertical, cross sectional View taken on irregular line VI-VI of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a detailed, fragmentary, cross sectional View taken on line VII- VII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, transverse, cross sectioxal view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6; an

Fig. 9 is a detailed, cross sectional View taken on line IX-IX of Fig. l.

The length of tubular stock of elastic material to be handled by the machine about to be described is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and'6 and designated by the numeral l0. The particular composition of tube I0 is of little importance to the 3 present invention other than the fact that the same is usually made from rubber substance or other elastic material capable of being cut into relatively short lengths and adapted for mounting upon a conductor adjacent the terminal end thereof as hereinabove set forth.

The machine, per se, includes a polygnal, flat base l2 adapted lfor fastening upon a table or bench as desired by the operator, said base l2 being cut away at one end thereof as at I4. A pair of substantially identical, spaced-apart walls or frame members I6 and I8 extend upwardly from the base i 2 adjacent one end thereof and are aiixed to base I2 in any suitable manner, such as by machine bolts.

Openings (not shown) adjacent the uppermost end of the frame members I6 and I8 journal a transverse shaft 28. A hollow drum broadly designated by the numeral 22 is mounted upon the shaft 20, said drum being cup-shaped and provided with a closed end wall 24. Wall 24 is centrally perforated to clear the shaft 28 and has rigidly secured to the outermost face thereof a ratchet wheel 28 of appreciably smaller diameter thanthe diameter of drum 22, as indicated in Fig.

Ratchet Wheel 28 is provided with a key 28 for securing the same directly to the shaft 28, to the end that ratchet wheel 26 and drum 22 rotate as a unit with the shaft 28. Drum 22 has a cylindrical, innermost surface 32 and a polygonal, outermost face 32.

A plurality of radial fingers extend outwardly from the face 32 of drum 22, said fingers being arranged in pairs, Vthere being four such pairs illustrated in the drawings and clearly indicated in Figs. and 6. One of the ngers of each pair is designatedby the numeral 313 and is stationarily secured to the drum 22 by means of a block 32.

Drum 22 is provided with a T-shaped, transverse slot 38 Yfor receiving the block 38 having the same cross sectional contour, blocks 38 all being rigidly but removably secured to the drum 22 by means of screws 48 (Eig. 3). Stationary finger 34 is mounted directly upon the outermost face of the block 38.

Each pair of fingers is, also, provided with a movable finger 42 that is mounted in a slidable bar 44. An end view of bar 44 is illustrated in Fig. 6 to show the contour thereof, and the longitudinal, opposed ears 46 are provided vas guides for bar 44 as the same reciprccates within the drum 22. Transverse openings 48 formed through the drum 22 in direct alignment with the slots 38 have a cross sectional contour complementary with the cross section of bar 44.

Each bar 44 has a block 58 secured directly to the innermost face thereof and disposed within the drum 22. Thus, blocks 58 are reciprocable with the bars 44 toward and away from the closed end 24 of drum 22. Each block 58 has a slot 52 formed in the end thereof proximal to the wall 24 of drum 22 for receiving a roller 54 journalled on a short shaft 58.

The open ends of the openings 48 opposite to blocks 38 are closed by plates 58 removably secured to the drum 22, said plates 58 each having a pin 60 extending into the openings 48. Pins 60 receive a spring 82 interposed between the plate 58 and the proximal end of bar 44 for holding the latter biased toward the corresponding block 36.

Thus, the two fingers 34 and 42 of each pair thereof are normally held together by the spring 62. When these fingers are together, they combine'to present an elongated rod that is substan- 4 tially circular in cross section and having a di-V ameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the tubular stock I8. Each finger 34 and 42 is, accordingly, substantially semi-circular in cross section, as indicated in Fig. 1.

A centrally-perforated, disc-like cam member 64 having an outside diameterslightly less than the inside diameter of drum 2-2is mounted within the latter directly upon the shaft 28, as indicated in Fig. 6. Cam member 65 is provided with a peripheral flange 86 that extends substantially 180 therearound, flange 88 commencing at the ends thereof in a feather edge and progressively increasing in thickness, as illustrated in Fig. l, from both ends vthereof to its center. The inclined side of flange 68 faces the rollers 54, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The cam member 64 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 28 for free movement longitudinally therealong and is adjustable toward and away from the rollers 54 and, accordingly, away from and toward the innermost face of wall 24, through the medium of an L-shaped member 68. Member 68 extends into the open en-d of the drum 22 and is secured directly tof a sleeve 'i8y freely circumscribing the shaft 28 between cam 84 and frame member I8.

Bolts 'I2 serve to removably securev member 68 and sleeve 28. One leg of the member 68- overlaps the outermost face of frame member i8 and is provided with an adjusting screw 74 that bears against the frame member I3 and is provided with a lock nut '18. A plurality of bolts i8 interconnect the sleeve 18 and the cam member 64 and, accordingly, as adjusting screw lf2 is moved to increase the distance between the overlapping, leg of member 68 and the frame member I8, cam member 54 will be moved toward the rollers 54.

Since the member EB-lies flatly against one vertical edge of the frame members i 3, it serves also to prevent rotation of cam member 84 and sleeve 18 as drum 22 is rotated thereabout.

Rotation of the drum 22, together with the fingers 34 and .12 secured thereto, as well as the blocks 58 and their rollers 54, around the sleeve T8, cam member 64 and member 88 is accomplished by a swinging movement imparted to an arm 82, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 2; The meansv for swinging the arm 88 through its path of travel forms no part of this invention and has not been shown but may constitute such instrumentalities as an air cylinder, electric motor and crank arm or other prime mover.

The arm 88 is secured directly to a disc 82 by means of a plurality of bolts or the like 84. Disc 82 is centrally perforated, and freely mounted upon the shaft 28 in close proximity to the ratchet wheel 26 on the outermost face of wall 24. Disc 82 is provided with an outwardly-extending ear 88 at its periphery that engages aroller 88 on one end of an arm S8 that is Vpivotally secured as at 92 on the innermost face of frameA member I6..

26 and cause rotation thereof, together withv As -arm 8l) returns to,

shaft 28 and drum 22; rr i Y the uppermost endy of 'itsy path y of vtravelrspring 93 will permit pin 96 to yield and clear the teeth of ratchet 26.

Step-by-step rotative movement of the drum 22 is, of course, dened by arm 8d, but to further assure such movement, there is provided a plate secured directly to the shaft 20 for rotation therewith exteriorly of the upright frame member l5. rThe plate |50 is provided with a flat portion |52 that corresponds respectively with each of the pair of fingers 34 and 42.

As drum 22 is rotated, these flats |02 align consecutively with and engage a verticallyreciprocable plunger |64 mounted within a case that is, in turn, secured directly to the outermost face of the upright frame member I6. The case |06 is open at its uppermost end, and the plunger |02 is held biased upwardly against the periphery of the disc 82 by springs |08 within the case |05 and interposed between plunger Hill and the bottom wall of case |06.

Feeding means for the tubular stock includes a pair of opposed rollers H0 and H2 secured directly to shafts Ill and i6, respectively. Shafts |ll and ||S are mounted in parallel relationship in a bifurcated carrier H8 that is, in turn, slidably mounted for vertical reciprocation upon an L-shaped support |20. Support |20 is secured directly to the uppermost face of the base I2 near one end thereof opposite to the frame members H5 and i8, and the upstanding leg thereof is rectangular in cross section as illustrated in Fig. 8.

Carrier I I0 is provided with an elongated opening |22 for slidably receiving the support |25. The lowermost limit of travel of the carrier IE5 is defined by a set screw |2l in support |20; and, through use of a lock nut |26, the extent of movement of carrier ||8 toward base I2 is adjustably selected. Carrier I i8 is provided with a pair of perforated guides |28 and |30 on opposite sides of the rollers ||0 and ||2 to direct the length of tube ||l between such rollers, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The openings in guides |28 and |30 are normally in alignment with aligned openings |32 and |313 formed in a pair of blocks |35 and |38, respectively. Block |38 is secured directly to the uppermost end of the support |25 through the medium of bolts |40, and the block |36 is interposed between the rollers lill and ||2 and the block |38 and is secured directly to the carrier H8 by bolts |22.

Block |35 is disposed in sliding contact with the proximal face of block |33 as carrier ||B is reciprocated vertically. It is clear that, as blocks |35 and |38 are thus shifted relatively, the openings |32 and |32 therethrough will be moved out of alignment and the tube I2 extending through the openings |32 and |34 will be sheared off between the proximal faces of blocks |30 and |38.

A pair of intermeshing gears |24 and H1B are secured to one end of shafts H2 and ||6, respectively. Rotation of the shaft H2, and consequently roller H0 and gear |06 to in turn rotate roller H2 through gear |46 and shaft H5, is accomplished through an overrunning clutch |28 of the type illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

Clutch |48 includes a cylindrical housing |50, a ratchet member |52 within the housing |50 and secured directly to shaft llll and a plurality of rollers |55. interposed between ratchet |52 and the innermost face of housing |50. It is clear that, as housing |50 is rotated in the direction of the arrow as shown in Fig.' 9, rollers |54 will wedge tightly against the ratchet wheel |52 and cause rotation of shaft ||4.

When housing itc is returned in the direction opposite to the arrow in rig. 9, rollers |54 will release automatically, and shaft will not be caused to rotate in a counterairection. A plate |53 secured to that end of the housing iiiu opposite to gear |22 and next adjacent the clutch |48 contacts a stop |55 on carrier llt to limit the extent of rotative movement of housing |50 in said counterdirection.

Housing |50 is provided with an ear |56 that pivotally receives through the medium of a pin |58 one end of a rod |60. A second rod |62 is pivotally secured as at ISE directly to the disc 52 on shaft 20. A longitudinal bore IEB adjustably receives a pin |58 that is held in place by set screw |10. Pin |08 extends into a bore that is enlarged as at |12 and formed in the rod |62.. An outwardly-extending shoulder |111 on the innermost end of the pin |53 limits the extent of sliding movement of pin |68 within bore |12.

That end of the arm 90 opposite to roller S8 is pivotally secured to the carrier I8 below block |35 through the medium of a pin |16. Upward reciprocable movement of the carrier |I8 is defined by structure illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing and includes a Z-shaped, upsta'nding, supporting member |18 mounted upon the uppermost face of the base I2. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the uppermost lateral leg of the member |18 overlaps a portion of the carrier ||8 and carries a vertical, tubular housing |80.

A spring-loaded plunger |82 in housing |80 extends through the member |18 within the'. path of travel of carrier ||8 and serves as a bumper as carrier H8 moves toward the uppermost end of its path of travel. Rotative movement of the disc 82 in one direction to limit the upward swinging movement of arm is limited by a stop |52 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 that projects laterally from one face of the disc 82 and contacts an inclined, uppermost edge |86 of the frame member |6.

Fig. 4 of the drawings illustrates, also, a friction brake to prevent overrunning of the gears |22 and |20. This brake constitutes a plug |85 mounted within the gear |46 having a springloaded plunger mounted therein and disposed to slidably engage the proximal face of carrier IIB as the gear |06 rotates.

Assuming the parts of the machine just described to be formed and assembled as set forth, the operation is as follows:

As the arm B0 is swung downwardly from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 as indicated by the arrows in said figure, pin 9B engages ratchet 20 to rotate shaft 20. Disc 52 being secured dlrectly to arm 80 rotates to move lug 85 against roller 88 and to cause swinging movement of the arm 90 on pivot 02.

Such movement of arm 90 raises the carrier H8 from the position resting upon set screw |22. Such upward movement of the carrier ll shifts the block |36 to shear off a short length of the tubular member |0. As the drum 22 is rotated because of rotation of shaft 20, the pairs of fingers 36 and l2 will move 90. Such 90 step of rotative movement of drum 22 is dened by the disc |00 and one of its flat, peripheral portions |02 engaging the vertically-reciprocable plunger |00.

As the disc 82 is rotated approximately 90 through the swinging movement of arm 80, arm

|02 willbe pulled awayv from arm |60 aty the |08 and. rod |62. Asv disc- 82 is continued to be rotated to the end of its path of travel, shoulder |14 will engage the outermost end of enlarged cavity |72, and a longitudinal pull-ing movement will be imparted to the rod |60.

Such movement of rod 1.50 actuates clutch- I48. to= a set position for rotating the shaft I I4 having roller IILO thereon when disc 82V returns to its starting position. Thus, as rod 80 returns to the uppermost end of its path of travel, rod |52 will move into abutting relationship with the proximal end of rod. |60 to` actuatethe cluteh. |48.

Such operation of clutch |43 takes` place only. after thel openings |32 and |34 of shearing blocks 1,3 8 and |38; have. returned to the normal, alignedposition, Obviously; suchv aligning takes place upondownward movementof carrier I I0 through its inherentv weight. as. lugv B0. moves away from4 roller 8.8, and permits swinging movement of? arm 90. back to. the normal, inoperative position'.

As clutch L48, rotates. the. rollers IIiJ` and |I2,

` tnestoek of tubular. material lu will be fed longitudinally throughthe, openings E32. and. |34. and

will force -theshort piece of severed tube within` quickly insert the terminal. and conductor thatl is to be furnished with insulating tube by projecting the same between the4 spread-apartv fingers 34 and 4,2.

He thereupon graspS. the, short tube and pulls the same from the lingers 3 4 and 42,. As these. empty fingers move downwardly toward and between the framemembers I 5 and I8, the lingers 34 and 42 returnv to a position together for re= ceiving anotherundistended, short piece of. tu.- bular stock.

This action of the fingerse and 42 is accomplished by the rollers 5,4riding upon the flange portion 66 of the cam member which imparts a reciprocable movement to block 50 and, consequently, to bar 44 and the linger 42 thereon.

From the foregoing,'it is clear that -the entire operation 0f the machine from the time thematerial I0 is rst fed thereinto by the rollers4 IIO and II2 until the short, severed lengths thereof are removed from the lingers 34 and 42 to a position circumscribing a conductor and a portion of its terminal, is automatic and takes place through the movement of a single member, i. e., arm 80.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim' as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an insulating machine, a frame; ahollow vrotatable drumA having an open end;` a plu? 8 rality of pairs of lingers mounted on the drum, one linger of each pair thereof being reoiprocable along a path of travel parallel with the axis of rotation of the drum; roller means within the drum and attached to each reciprocable linger respectively; a non-rotatable cam within the drum and within the path of travel of the roller means; means for yieldably holding the rollers biased against the cam, said cam being reoiprocable along said axis of rotation of the drum, said frame having an elongated shaft for rotatably mounting the drum, said cam being slidably carried by the shaft for reciprocation along the longitudinal axis thereof; a member connected with the cam for sliding the cam on the shaft, said member extending outwardly beyond the drum through said open end thereof; and structure for selectively holding the same in adjusted positions along itsreoiprocablek path of travel, said structure including means movable on the member and engaging the frame exteriorly of the drum for holding the member against movement inwardly intothe drum, said member bearing against the frame for holding the member and theA cam against rotation with the shaft.

2. In a machine for facilitating the application of distensible tubes toconductor terminals, a frame having two upstanding spaced-apart walls; a rotatable shaft carried by Said walls; a hollow drum having one closed end carried by said shaft for rotation therewith; a plurality of pairs of radially-extending lingers carried by said drum at spaced points onthe exterior sur'- face thereof, one ngerof each pair being reciprocable along a path of travel parallel with the axis of rotation of said drum rollern means within said drum attachedto each reoiprocable linger engageable with said cam, whereby said reciprooable fingers are reciprocated as the drum rotates; and means for adjusting said cam along the axisk 'of said shaft, said meansY comprising an L-shaped member having a rst arm attached at one end thereof tor said cam and extending beyond one 0f said spaced-apart walls, a second arm onsaid L-shaped member havinga portion extending over the outside suriaceof said one wall, and an adjustingl screw threaded through said. second arm and bearing against said outside surface of said oneV wall, whereby adjustment of said screw causes said L-shaped member to-be moved along a line parallel to said shaft, and. said cam isthereby adjusted along the axis of said shaft.

JOHN W. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,073,067 AyarsY Sept. 9, 1913 1,506,851 Martin et al. Sept. 2, 1924 1,877,004 Menzl -Sept..l3, 1932 2,045,087 Keller et al June 23, 1936 2,422,065 Anselmi June 10, 1947 

